Liberty and Kettling.

Liberty asked to observe policing of anti-cuts rally

Civil liberties campaigners have been asked by police to act as legal observers at this month’s anti-cuts march, following heavy criticism of “kettling” at recent demonstrations.

The rally in central London on 26 March – three days after the Budget – is expected to attract at least 200,000 marchers in the biggest trade union show of strength for decades. In an unprecedented move, Scotland Yard and the TUC have invited Liberty to monitor the march to ensure policing is safe and proportionate.

The move follows anger over the use of kettling – confining marchers to one area for hours – during the G20 demonstrations of 2006 and last year’s student tuition fee protests.

Please see Andrew's blog of 7th. December 2010.